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I spoke with Lew at Alcan about the differences in ride between the 4 and 5 leaf versions of the springs he has sold to Oliver owners. His response was that the 4 and 5 leaf springs have the same ride and spring rate (amount of weight required to be exerted on a spring to deflect it 1”). This makes sense as the 4 leaf versions are merely the 5 leaf with the shortest leaf removed, leaving the identical top 4 leafs in place. Since the shortest leaf doesn’t go to work until the first four leafs reach their limits this makes sense. So, my takeaway from my discussion with him is that both the 4 and 5 leaf versions of his springs have the same ride firmness when towing. The big differences are in lower unsprung weight (4leaf version has one fewer leafs) and higher load capability of the 5 leaf (due to the 5th leaf providing greater load capacity). oh, and over 20,000 miles on my 5 leaf Alcans with no issue of ride harshness or things getting jostled around (tires @50 psi and speeds not in excess of 70mph)

I will give Casita a little credit. They are certainly taking “little bites” out of the fiber glass travel trailer market for folks who just cannot justify 90-100k for an Oliver. Smart forward thinking with their R&D folks with a larger/longer camper and dry bath to boot. And oh gee, how interesting? Casita must be listening to their customers! 🤔 Might be just me, But I bet they sell quite a few baskets of those eggs! 😄 https://casitatraveltrailers.com/lc/

Spring rating and spring capacity together determine how the road conditions impact the load. For a given load, a higher rated suspension will have less travel than a softer one. To put this at an extreme, if we go with an infinately strong suspension, say a block of wood, an input from the road will imediately be felt in the cab. This is not what we want. On the other end of the extreme, if we have a too soft suspension, the axle will bang the frame with every input. We don't want that either. And for this reason, all the springs and shocks being used by our owners fall between the two stupid extremes above. Hence they work. The root cause of these discussions as admitted by three Dexter Tech's to me that the original OEM springs being contineously loaded were under designed. That's why so many have prematurly failed. The good news is that many of us have upgraded our springs to higher rated ones. I personally recommend this to ALL OE2 owners who still have their OEM 1750 Dexters. So for those of us who have already done so, bascally all we are really fretting about is the personal selection of different options. It is Physics that if you have a stiffer suspension, you will get less spring travel. For some that is greatly needed. But if an owner of several years has zero witness marks on their frame and axle U-bolts, then likely they just need to address the under design issue and go with a compromise spring rate. As Ronbrink mentioned above, your shocks will wear in a bit and may help some. With the upgrades you have your rig is set up for great off road service. There is only one thing I can think of to amelerate your situtation. You may want to check YOUR tire MFG Pressure/Load chart for recommended tire pressure at your actual axle loading. If you don't know that number, please hit the scales. At 55 PSI, I would wager that you are well over your tire MFG recommended pressure. I recommend 40 to 45 tops for 95% of our OE2 owners weights. GJ

In case you missed it. Bill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1-Il-AaOC4

No tv at all in our OLEll. We have Starlink for communication and can get tv content on our laptops if desired.

With approx 11,000 miles logged on our Alcan running gear we have not had any issues with our gear moving around at all. I agree with Mike the trailer seems more planted when towing. I also run 55# tire pressure. I even leave a pair of reading glasses on a small shelf near my bunk and they stay put.

Casita did a pretty good job with this new trailer. Tank sizes, especially black tank, dry bath and large fridge are all good selling points. At about half the price of an Oliver this is going to provide some competition. I hope Oliver is working on their next trailer! Mike

The SL Mini doesn’t transmit TV, it provides internet connectivity so the user can stream whatever his device is capable of streaming. Carol and I are sometimes both on our iPads streaming different video content from the SL Mini. Mike

And - what's "wrong" with "rat fur"? Back in the day when I was first looking at molded fiberglass, I took a look at a Casita. I was fairly impressed with the "oak" cabinet doors until I looked a bit more closely and saw that they were actually "press board" with a decal oak cover. Then I looked at the rat fur, then I looked at the frame, then I looked at the "holes" in the shell that were used to secure the "furniture inside, then I took a look at .....

Lots of wood inside. Would not work for us, as the wife has a severe mold allergy. Trailers leak, and once any wood gets wet and does not quickly dry out, mold happens. We are glad we could afford an Oliver Elite II.

Same here with 15,000 mi since install early this year :)

We reconfigured our OTT in the same manner and have logged over 12k miles since. Concur w/ @Mike and Carol, the rig feels solid and tracks true over various terrain conditions. @Geronimo John and I ventured over several dozens of USFS roads in rough and muddy conditions earlier this year while searching around and met @jd1923 w/o any noticeable relocation of contents inside the cabin. Rugged terrain should be transited slowly and surely, IMO. I would not have chose to transit those USFS roads without the suspension upgrades you've done to your Ollie. just my $0.02... Be safe out there...

We're in site 5 which sits by itself for $35/night. Sites 3-4 were also nice and 1-2 are down in a bottom, all for $30. I imagine they're less busy since they are dry sites (good water offered at the farm), they're not keeping up the property so well and the river decks are not level and a bit creaky. Most RVers want hook-ups , but we wanted to be close to town and be alone. The RV park next door with hookups cost double and ALL the National campgrounds are closed now (we drove to McPhee Campground today). Not sure, are they closed after October 1st, or due to the Government shut-down? The Recreation.gov website is presently nonfunctional! Regardless of where you stay, come with empty fridge and shop at the Delores Market! Onsite butcher, great produce variety, local fresh baked goods and the best Cherry pie anywhere. They were out of pies when we stopped in late Sunday (got a small pumpkin bread instead, yum). We got an apple pie today with brown sugar crisp top! Yep, we've been there twice in just 24 hours! Pics from when we were here late june...

Hello this is my first post! I am removing the Dometic AC that came with my 2021 LE 2. I bought a Pioneer Inverter AC/Heat Pump 13,500 BTU. Any tips on removal and installation will be gratefully accepted!

We have the standard awning without wings. I like to move the picnic table half under and half outside of the awning. then I use three tie downs from the awning to the table itself. For week plus stays with tables, it beats collecting three each 3 gallon buckets of rocks for dead weights... much faster too. GJ

Thanks Mike. It is obvious I am a Mechanical Engineer. Fortunately June is a Masters Electrical Engineer and a IT Professional. So I'm the slow one in the gizmology world of these type of machines. But power I do get!. Gathering the base level info lets me ask less stupid C.S. questions though. Many thanks for your posts! GJ

Sure! Each laptop is working independently so it only comes down to the internet "Bandwidth," which simply means how much data can be transmitted over time. Typical Starlink connections are very fast, usually greater than 100 Mega bites per second (Mbps) so you can easily stream video on more than one device at a time. That's why trailer park internet can be so slow; the more users means less available bandwidth.

That's why we're taking our time replacing the springs in 2026 with Alcan springs. I don't like Dexter EZ Flex wet pin spring bushings, they were thin and fragile when installing the EZ Flex system, very easy to damage. Believe Alcan's bushings are made of more durable material and thicker than Dexter's wet pin spring bushings. This will be a good reason for us to visit Grand Junction, CO this year during our western trip. 🙂

Bill: Lucky you to have the 5200's for free. I am going to "Assume" you are not a 5%er. If not, I get a second strike. With your super good 5200's and BEEFY brakes, and likely the Dexter 5 Leaf springs, I do not recall a single post where the 5 leaf springs on 6,000 pound class OTT's have failed. (Somebody please correct me if my memory has gone on strike in this. If so, please provide specifics.) I would continue to inspect them every season checking for flatening out of their curve. But then that would be smart for every owner to do, even those with Alcan's. 🙂 GJ

JD: Love it. A shameless Starlink recommendation! GJ

In similar fashion, I can't do the wood or carpeted interior because of all the glues (formaldehyde) and my severe allergies. My allergies began with exposure to formaldehyde! And while that large refrigerator looks nice, I sure would miss my pantry in my E2.

Guess I'm on a roll today..... I keep hearing that X-spring seems to make their trailer sure footed. Likely a good observation by credible owners. I suspect they do to at least some extent. But. Not once in eight years of crossing the Continental USA, running 9,000+ miles a year, always with significant highway and off road use in the mountains, have I ever had my OTT OE2 not be dirctly behind my truck. It just follows where the Anderson leads it. It does not sway. It does not wonder around, it does not wag it's tail at other pretty trailers we pass or that pass us, and it certainly has never been sideways to the path. It just follows behind me and always shows up in a second or two when we arrive. So, really is being "Sure Footed" a critical factor in selecting a trailer spring for all of us? Likely not. Whereas, ride of the trailer, and especially our contents, is an important spring selection consideration. For the 5%ers who have significant witness marks, you have other criterion of more critical importance, and that is keeping the axle U-Bolts from killing your frames welds due to how you love to use your trailers. For that you need the stiffness of the super duty 5 leaf Alcans. And I support that perspective for your use. But I suspect that "sure footedness" is not a relivant criterion for the majority of owners that don't have witness marks on our frames, and who's frame welds are not worried. 🙂 GJ

Dexter 5 leaf? Typo? Good that you are planning to change your springs before their roadside failure. The above generic chart provides general industry standard info. The Michelin provided chart for these tires also require at least 35 PSI. If an owner can not find a chart for their manufacturer, use of the above could be pretty good guidline. But with the internet the actual data for your tires is better. Here is the chart for mine OE2 tires: For talking purposes, a typical 6,000 pound OE2 will have a tongue weight of about 580 pounds. That calculates to about 2720 pounds for each axle. From the chart we are off the chart. One could mathamatically postulate that at the example axle weight we should use about 27/28 PSI. Not the case. The pressure shown on the left side is the minimum pressure to be used. But for the purpose of lowering running drag, and to give us more safe warning time when a tire is failing, most of us add some pressure. Likewise, I also run my OE2 with 40 to 45 PSI when on highway. If serious off roading I lower it further to 35 as per the charts. But if conditions dictate, for short duration I would not hesitate to go below the 35 PSI. And have twice with our Ollie. SUGGESTION: I like many other owners, believe that having a 20/18 volt air compressor (And a good plug kit) are musts when traveling far or traveling off road. GJ

A strong move by Casita. I would still chose my E2 again over the larger Casita (for many reasons). if their specs are accurate, I predict many suspension issues. After adding options like A/C, cooktop, electric jack, larger capacity batteries, awning, furnace plus full propane and water tanks there will not be much buffer left for furnishings, food and personal items before going over capacity, especially if camping as a Family as it is marketed. Dry Weight: 4,250lbs (Before Options) GVWR 6,000lbs I hope to see one at the fiberglas rally in Quartzsite this Winter.

We plan to replace our Dexter 5 leaf spring packs with Alcan springs during 2026, installed new shocks last year. Our LE2 is light, even after adding to Ollie's ready to camp weight during 2025, should be around 5100 pounds with empty tanks. Been running 40PSI in Ollie's tires during 2025 and not having issues with trailer contents shifting. This air pressure chart came from a previous thread here.

Would work perfectly. Less trouble, winner winner.

Be careful with inexpensive tire repair kits. Over the years I have read several reports of the plastic handles failing, impaling the drill in the operators hand. If you've never done a repair, I would suggest practicing on a junk tire. It is a lot harder than it looks to push the drill through an E-rated tire! A battery drill makes it much easier. I've had this set from ARB for about 10 years, and fortunately have only had to use it once: https://ok4wd.com/arb-speedy-seal-tire-repair-kit-arb10000011/

No Alcan upgrade, but kinda recall owners saying there is a reduction in the initial spring stiffness over time as they wear-in. I did however, recently install new Bulldog shocks and first go had things shift more than the prior; like hangers off the rail and propane housing dislodged from the center hanger mount. Luckily, all mellowed out in short order as the shocks quickly broke-in.

We haven’t had any content shifting issues. My impression so far is that the trailer seems more sure footed with the ALCANs. Mike

Oliver spotted in a Polaris Off Road video! The Oliver can be seen briefly in several scenes of the video about Cerro Gordo Ghost Town and historic silver mine.

No, a voltage regulator is not advised for the Starlink mini because it already operates from 12 to 48 volts DC. As was the jest of this thread, it's actually necessary to boost the voltage if using the supplied long cord in a 12 volt system due to the voltage drop. When I started this thread, I had one of the first Minis and there were no accessories or aftermarket options to allow it to work on 12 volts without either boosting the voltage, or shortening the cord. So I utilized a robust Vctron voltage booster that's wired to turn-on whenever the Mini is plugged in. I still use that system and, IMHO, it's still the best and simplist way to go. Of course, you can always use the supplied AC adapter that puts out 48 volts DC if you have an inverter, but that will suck down your battery a lot faster. These days there are more options and shorter cords if your mini is going to be mounted close by. However, it's often necessary to move the Mini further away for it to have a clear sky view, and in such case you need to boost the voltage to account for voltage drop from the longer cord. Some people use a POE injector (Power Over Ethernet) that can supply power through an ethernet cable that is plugged into the auxiliary ethernet port. Others use portable battery packs. I make snap-in re-chargeable battery packs for taking my mini to other campsites and such, but they have limited battery life. Because the Mini has a built in Router, it looses WiFi signal, and thus internet speed, the farther away it is. Mine is hopelessly slow if I use the entire cord length. So a great accessory is the Starlink Mini Router. They are inexpensive, and you won't often need it. But when you have a situation where your Mini is placed farther away for a clear sky view, then the router will save your day! See my post "The New Starlink Mii Router, for what ails you." So you will need to decide how you want to power your Mini based on how you plan to mount it and use it. Then you can make an informed decision on how to power it. Hope that helps! Geoff

Never considered it, but for the record we have the Fiama brand and rarely if ever use it. Too much of a PITA to deal with. If you go through with it would love to hear your experiences in changing.

In my above July 3rd post I showed the Cielo’s temporary mount utilizing its stock USB Type C cord powered by an adapter at the receptacle outlet in the upper galley cabinet. I have since gained expertise through testing and actual field experiences, and now have even more confidence in the capability of this device. Other than the fact that featured modes can be programmed for both temperature and humidity comfort, preliminary findings indicate that advanced features are accessible in the absence of Wi-Fi, to which I have previously addressed. Learning by trial, being able to conveniently switch supply power off would benefit limited use of said features and thus, an aftermarket USB cord with inline switch was employed. Proving successful in application, I then focused on a more permanent and aesthetic mount. Yes, holes were drilled and Cielo altered, here’s how I proceeded: A file was used to create a furrow for the USB cord to pass through the Cielo’s base. A 90° adapter was used to connect the switched power cord at the Cielo and then routed through the base components. A hole was made at the mount point to pass the cord through the wall into a cavity next to the microwave. A hole was drilled from the upper cabinet into said cavity. A wire was used to fish a pull string into place. USB cord pulled into upper cabinet, routing to receptacle/adapter and cabinet mat reinstall not shown. Cielo readied for mounting. Installation complete. I think it’s worth mentioning that the black backing plate added to facilitate the use of 3M Dual Lock for wall mounting is not a necessity. As installed, the Cielo can easily be mounted to the wall with supplied screws in conventional manner. I only resorted to the Dual Lock mount initially to enable easy movement when finding the best placement spot for the device, and may eventually remove it for a more streamlined mount and appearance. Regardless, I can now switch the Cielo on for use or off when the a/c’s remote is the preferred method of control. At this point in time, I will attempt to only post comments regarding the Dreiha Atmos 4.4 on this thread and further comments pertaining to the Cielo on the Cielo Breez Max thread.

Columbia Icefield Parking lot for Athabasca Glacier Also functions as FCFS Campground

We also do not use our tv much, but when it rains it sure is nice. We bought ours used and the previous owners ditched the factory tv with a bigger one. Gary and Sandy

Good question, I have yet to encounter that situation since acquiring the Starlink Mini. I utilize the $5/mo Standby Mode plan for low-speed data to simply operate the Cielo, as necessary, and some Victron components. I know that once Cielo Comfy Mode is initiated using Wi-Fi to turn on the a/c via the phone app, it will continue to operate in that mode without a Wi-Fi connection. The a/c can then be turned off via the Cielo touchscreen if Wi-Fi is unavailable. I will have to further test for potential limitations in regard to your question.

Next step is to build the new suspension. I made a mistake in assembly, then contacted Lew at Alcan and he got me straight in a minute! Notice the first picture, suspension jacked up, wheels removed, axles hanging. I thought I could mount the new leaf springs in the same manner, not true! Remember reading posts here about having to flip a shackle, after lifting the Oliver to change a tire or something? On the OEM, old weak and lose suspension, a shackle could drop down and you could drive over a curb and the shackle would flip back up. Not with the HD Alcan leaf springs. They must be mounted shackles up to start, as they are NOT going to flip! 🤣 This also means that when changing a tire after your Alcan upgrade you will not have to worry about the shackle falling, they will certainly stay up! Pic1 shows the original suspension, pic2 how I first installed it, pic3 shows the suspension corrected shackles up. It was not fun, nor easy to remove the wet-bolts to flip these shackles. You must have the Oliver jacked up evenly, front-to-back and side-to-side otherwise there is stress on these bolts keeping them tight. On our driveway, slanted downhill it took me a couple of hours on each side to get the leaf springs aligned to make this correction. BTW, if you want to change the equalizer by itself, that job would not be fun either. Replace the equalizer when you replace your leaf springs.

I'd guess you are pioneering the Pioneer install. Yes, it looks identical to the Gree/Turbro Greenland. I think you will enjoy the energy savings and quiet of an inverter compressor ac. Glad to see they are FINALLY becoming available here in the USA. The biggest challenge in our swap from the Dometic Dinosaur unit to our littler Hougton was getting units off, and on the roof. We used 3 people, safety ropes,,and two ladders. Used carpet, upside down, to slide the new unit forward, after getting it to the top. Install on our Houghton was pretty straightforward. All these are set for the standard 14 x 14 approximate openening. We did have to fare out the opening a bit of some jagged edges. I'll bet you find the same. Have you seen the install manual? Is it possible to connect the condensate line? We could not with our houghton. Are you planning to resell the dometic you remove?

Further deterrent, additional cable!

While you have drill in hand, source another padlock, a long-shackle lock for this mod! Mark one end of the paddle nut and where to drill when it's mounted and tight. Then remove both parts, hammer the one side flat and drill both on a workbench vise. These simple deterrents will chase the common thief away, thinking the can pry a battery door or merely lift the LP cover, not prepared with more sophisticated tools.

To be clear, Wi-Fi is required to initially setup the Cielo to configure use with the Home app on a smartphone. However once desired settings are programmed and Wi-Fi is discontinued, the air conditioner can still be operated manually via the touchscreen on the device to change the temperature, mode (Cool, Heat), fan speed and swing position. AND contrary to the above quoted statement, in the absence of Wi-Fi the Cielo can still be turned off. More on this later.